Wildlife Board launches website

BANGALORE: Now you can post your comments and suggestions, express your opinion, participate in wildlife conservation and start discussion groups about any national park or wildlife sanctuary in the state, because, for the first time in the country, a State Board for Wildlife has developed and launched its website.Even the National Board for Wildlife, which is chaired by the Prime Minister, does not have its own website.This is a first of its kind in the country and gives the general public a platform to express their opinions.The idea, conceived by Anil Kumble, Vice Chairman of the board, has details of all the protected areas in the state, wildlife laws, details of forest staff who have shown exemplary courage in saving our wildlife, the importance of every national park and wildlife sanctuary in the state and other such details. It also provides details about dos and don’ts in the protected areas, the best times during which to visit the area, accommodation facilities and so on.“We would like to encourage more public participation in wildlife conservation through this website. Our vision is to save wildlife and wild lands of Karnataka through policy, science and outreach, and further democratise the way protected areas are managed,” says Anil Kumble.The State Board for Wildlife is a statutory body, set up under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, to advise the state government on matters related to wildlife conservation, selection and management of protected areas, harmonising the needs of forest dwellers with wildlife conservation, and other related issues.The website (www.karnatakawildlifeboard.org) was launched by the chief minister, the chairman of the Wildlife Board, and Vijayashankar, Minister for Forests and Small Scale Industries, on Tuesday.